What To Do During July

July 05, 1992|By Source: Illinois Landscape Contractors Association.

Watering continues to be an important landscape concern.

- Water for a half hour to moisten soil, turn off water for one hour, then water until one inch is applied. Like a sponge, moist soil soaks up more water. Watering after a rain serves the same purpose.

- Keep cultivation to a minimum to avoid turning up moist soil that quickly evaporates. If cracks appear, cultivate soil just enough to close cracks.

- Use 2-3 inches of organic mulch and water heavily. Avoid mulching dry ground; a light rain will be absorbed by the mulch and not reach the roots.

- Water when the plants need water. Always watering when your ordinance allows it can be detrimental to the plants and wastes a precious resource.

- Keep a watering plan during hot weather if you choose to keep turf green. Starting and stopping can be worse than no watering at all. Turf requires 1/4- to 1/2-inch of water every three weeks to survive.

- Consider letting grass go dormant if hot weather and watering restrictions force a choice between keeping it green or not watering. It will come back.

- Avoid sprinklers that create a fine mist or high arc. They increase evaporation and can waste water.

- Inspect automatic irrigation systems regularly to assure that all sprinklers work efficiently. Reduce watering time in any overwatered areas and adjust/replace heads to assure that water is not wasted on hard surfaces.

- Check sparse brown turf patches that may be caused by drought or the fungus disease ``melting out`` (usually related to excessive amounts of nitrogen). Fungicide application may protect remaining green grass; spots will need overseeding in early September.